Manager Advisory Services - Payer Strategy and Management Consulting - Remote

Optum; Eden Prairie (MN); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Equity stock purchase

401k contribution

Job summary

Optum is seeking a Manager, Advisory Services to lead day-to-day engagement management for payer-focused strategy consulting engagements. You will shape approach, manage workstreams, and coach junior staff while partnering with client executives to drive measurable outcomes.

In this role you will guide analyses, build consensus, and maintain executive-facing communication, with remote work flexibility but required Minneapolis/DC in-office time for certain hires.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of external client/customer-facing experience in strategy and management consulting (McKinsey-BCG-Bain/Big 4/Boutique) or equivalent professional services environment
• 2+ years of experience in health care (payer or life sciences)
• 2+ years of experience utilizing formal industry strategy consulting frameworks within a payer or life sciences environment
• 2+ years of experience with project management, developing and presenting deliverables to C-suite executives
• 1+ experience mentoring and upskilling junior staff
• Proven analytical reasoning and solutions-focus problem solving skills
• Ability to drill down to the root cause of issues and develop actionable solutions
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite - Word, PowerPoint, Excel
• Ability to travel domestically, up to 50% when required

Responsibilities

• Serve as overall day-to-day engagement manager across various engagement types (predominantly strategy and transformation consulting engagements for payer clients)
• Demonstrate ability to accurately diagnose client-facing issues and determine the appropriate analyses and evaluations to develop solutions
• Responsible for determining overall analytical approach and structure for client engagements and workstreams
• Build consensus among client stakeholders about the accuracy of the solutions and aid them in successful implementation.
• Spend time coaching team members to develop approaches for their individual responsibilities, reviewing and validating their work for accuracy and effectiveness
• Serve as the main point of contact for payer clients and client stakeholders
• Establish optimal communication cadence with clients and demonstrate executive presence
• Prioritize and delegate work to team members and self that meet needs and timelines of client
• Closely monitors actual vs. expected team utilization
• Effectively and appropriately apply both deductive and inductive thinking
• Provide subject matter expertise to other Optum Advisory Services business units related to strategic planning and specific payer client issues
• Communicate effectively and accurately in writing and verbally
• Demonstrate solid relationship management skills and ability to handle challenging interpersonal situations
• Contribute to practice-level initiatives including business development and thought leadership beyond client project work

Skills

Client engagement

Healthcare experience

Strategy frameworks

Project management

Mentoring

Analytical thinking

Root-cause analysis

MS Office

Travel flexibility

Tools

Word

PowerPoint

Excel

MS Office Suite

Job description

OptumInsightis improving the flow of health data and information to create a more connected system. We remove friction and drive alignment between care providers and payers, andultimately consumers. Our deepexpertisein the industry and innovative technology empower us to help organizations reduce costs while improving risk management,qualityand revenue growth. Ready to help us deliver results that improve lives? Join us in making healthcare work better for everyone through people-led, responsible AI while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

The Manager, Advisory Services is the overall day-to-day engagement manager for strategy consulting engagements serving payer clients. The Manager is responsible for determining overall approach and structure of a given engagement and associated key deliverables. The Manager must possess relevant strategy, management consulting, and healthcare industry and payer knowledge to serve as the driving force behind team problem solving, helping payer clients identify strategic priorities, improve financial and market performance, rationalize services, improve customer experiences, and address their specific business challenges. The Manager develops and assigns workstreams to team members and him/herself that meet the needs and timelines of the client. This role will also assist junior team members in building and developing their core consulting skills.

You’llenjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges. For all hires in the Minneapolis or Washington, D.C. area, you will be required to work in the office a minimum of four days per week.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as overall day-to-day engagement manager across various engagement types (predominantly strategy and transformation consulting engagements for payer clients)
• Demonstrate ability to accurately diagnose client-facing issues and determine the appropriate analyses and evaluations to develop solutions
• Responsible for determining overall analytical approach and structure for client engagements and workstreams
• Build consensus among client stakeholders about the accuracy of the solutions and aid them in successful implementation.
• Spend time coaching team members to develop approaches for their individual responsibilities, reviewing and validating their work for accuracy and effectiveness
• Serve as the main point of contact for payer clients and client stakeholders
• Establish optimal communication cadence with clients and demonstrate executive presence
• Prioritize and delegate work to team members and self that meet needs and timelines of client
• Closely monitors actual vs. expected team utilization
• Effectively and appropriately apply both deductive and inductive thinking
• Provide subject matter expertise to other Optum Advisory Services business units related to strategic planning and specific payer client issues
• Communicate effectively and accurately in writing and verbally
• Demonstrate solid relationship management skills and ability to handle challenging interpersonal situations
• Contribute to practice-level initiatives including business development and thought leadership beyond client project work

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well asprovidedevelopment for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years of external client/customer-facing experience in strategy and management consulting (McKinsey-BCG-Bain/Big 4/Boutique) or equivalent professional services environment
• 2+ years of experience in health care (payer or life sciences)
• 2+ years of experience utilizing formal industry strategy consulting frameworks within a payer or life sciences environment
• 2+ years of experience with project management, developing and presenting deliverables to C-suite executives
• 1+ experience mentoring and upskilling junior staff
• Proven analytical reasoning and solutions-focus problem solving skills
• Ability to drill down to the root cause of issues and develop actionable solutions
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite - Word, PowerPoint, Excel
• Ability to travel domestically, up to 50% when required

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leveraging AI tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, generative AI platforms, AI-driven analytics) as part of day-to-day delivery and team workflow; model AI-first behaviors for the broader practice
• Background in healthcare consulting
• Experience supporting end-to-end sales and business development life cycle in a consulting environment (e.g., lead generation, proposal development, RFP response)
• Creative in problem solving approach
• All employees working remotely will berequiredto adhere to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you'll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The salary for this role will range from $112,700 - $193,200 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare by harnessing technology and innovation to make care simpler to navigate, more affordable and more connected for the people we serve. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, heard and respected, empowering people to bring their authentic selves to work and strengthening our collective impact through diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.